IS Tranmere's season already over? Ray Mathias' players will provide the answer to that question in the next three weeks.

IS Tranmere's season already over? Ray Mathias' players will provide the answer to that question in the next three weeks.

Last night's ignominious exit from the LDV Vans Trophy, beaten 2-0 on a bitterly cold night at Bury's Gigg Lane, has left Rovers with nothing to distract them from the league between now and next May.

The disappointment of losing out to a Third Division side in a competition that really could have been won by Rovers will be acute for the club's fans today.

But if the embarrassment of this result can inspire a defiant response in the league over the hectic Christmas period, then the wound will heal quickly.

And that is what must happen. Tranmere are currently precariously poised in the middle of the Second Division table.

Forcing their way into the top six and becoming genuine play-off contenders remains a distinct possibility. But something has to happen now.

The club's fans need to see their side performing consistently. They need better fare than was dished up last night.

The players must start performing with the kind of heart and passion for the club which the manager has demonstrated during more than 30 years of loyal service. He deserves better from his players. Last night too many didn't perform.

The closest Rovers came to scoring in 90 frustrating minutes was when a weak first half header from Gary Jones forced Glyn Garner to gather low to his left.

In the opening 15 minutes alone, Mathias' men did their best to prove the festive adage that it is better to give than to receive.

First Graham Allen, playing in the heart of defence in place of the injured Kevin Gray, was caught nap-ping on the edge of the box by John Newby and had to dash back to clear the striker's weak effort from off the line.

The former Liverpool youth player was more clinical with the second slip which fell his way in the 15th minute.

Colin Woodthorpe whipped a cross in from the right side. John Achterberg came off his line to punch the ball away but his mistimed effort deflected to Newby at the back post and he did the rest.

Before the interval, the Dutchman redeemed himself with a top quality save, finger-tipping a powerful Ian Lawson header from point blank range over the bar.

That acrobatic stop, coupled with a narrow miss from Newby following a lightning fast break from his own defence, ensured Rovers still had something to play for after the break.

But on 55 minutes the Shakers gave themselves a deserved two-goal cushion when youngster David Nugent fired a shot under Achterberg's body after a Newby cross had deflected into his path 15 yards out.

Tranmere huffed and puffed in the remaining 35 minutes, but the result was never in doubt.

The fans did have one thing to get excited about in the closing stages. Striker Andy Robinson made his debut as a 69th minute substitute for Shane Nicholson.

The 22-year-old is a month into a three-month trial at Tranmere, having been spotted in action for Cammell Laird in the West Cheshire League.

He played in a three-man attack alongside Stuart Barlow and Simon Haworth but did not look out of place alongside his vastly more experienced team-mates.